What Is a Good GPA?

Short answer: 3.0 keeps most doors open, 3.5 gets you onto honors lists at many schools, 3.7 and up is competitive at selective schools. Here is what each number means.

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Good GPA: 3.0+ (B) · Honors: 3.5+ (B+) · Competitive: 3.7+ (A−) · National college average: about 3.1

"Good" depends on what the GPA is for. Staying in good academic standing, and keeping ordinary financial aid, usually takes a 2.0. Renewing most merit scholarships and qualifying for graduate school usually takes a 3.0. Dean’s List and Latin honors typically start at 3.5. Highly selective colleges admit mostly 3.8 to 4.0 students, and they look at unweighted GPA and course rigour together.

What is a good GPA in high school?

Above 3.0 unweighted is solid; 3.5 and up is strong; 3.8 to 4.0 unweighted (often 4.3 to 4.8 weighted) is what the most selective universities see. The average high-school GPA in the US is about 3.0.

What is a good GPA in college?

The national average is about 3.1. A 3.0 is the line most employers and graduate programs use as a minimum. A 3.5 gets you Dean’s List at most schools and cum laude at graduation; magna and summa cum laude usually need 3.7 and 3.9.

What is a good GPA for grad school?

Most programs list a 3.0 minimum. Competitive master’s and PhD programs typically admit students at 3.5 and above, and law and medical schools skew higher still (medical school matriculants average about 3.7 to 3.8).

Is a 3.0 / 3.5 / 3.8 GPA good?

GPALetterVerdict
4.0APerfectIs a 4.0 GPA good?
3.9AExcellentIs a 3.9 GPA good?
3.8A-ExcellentIs a 3.8 GPA good?
3.7A-Very goodIs a 3.7 GPA good?
3.6A-/B+Very goodIs a 3.6 GPA good?
3.5B+GoodIs a 3.5 GPA good?
3.4B+GoodIs a 3.4 GPA good?
3.3B+GoodIs a 3.3 GPA good?
3.2BAbove averageIs a 3.2 GPA good?
3.0BAverage to goodIs a 3.0 GPA good?
2.7B-Below averageIs a 2.7 GPA good?
2.5B-/C+Below averageIs a 2.5 GPA good?
2.0CMinimumIs a 2.0 GPA good?

What is the highest GPA you can get?

Unweighted, 4.0 (or 4.3 at schools that give A+ extra credit). Weighted GPAs add up to 1.0 per AP/IB class, so a student taking all AP classes with straight As can reach 5.0.

What is cumulative GPA?

Your GPA across every term combined, weighted by credits. It moves slowly once you have many credits: one great semester nudges it, it does not transform it. The calculator below combines a new term with your record.

Work out yours

Your GPA

Add each course with its letter grade and credits. Tick honors/AP for a weighted GPA.

GPAAdd at least one course with credits
Unweighted GPA
Total credits
Quality points
Letter equivalent

Cumulative GPA

Combine this term with your GPA so far.

New cumulative GPAFill in your previous GPA and credits, plus at least one course above

Questions people ask

What is a good GPA?

3.0 is the common minimum for scholarships and graduate school, 3.5 is the usual honors line, and 3.7 and above is competitive at selective schools. The US college average is about 3.1.

What is the highest GPA?

4.0 unweighted (4.3 where A+ counts extra). Weighted GPAs can reach 5.0 with all-AP straight As.

What is a good GPA for college admission?

Above 3.5 unweighted is strong for most colleges; the most selective admit mostly 3.8 to 4.0.

Does GPA matter after college?

For a first job some employers screen at 3.0; after a few years experience matters more. Graduate and professional schools keep caring about it.